Foley gay marriage stance may hurt Labor in Newtown

Nicole Hasham

Openly gay Labor MP Penny Sharpe has defended party leader Luke Foley's indecision on the issue of same-sex marriage, even as his stance threatens to hurt her chances in the progressive seat of Newtown.

Ms Sharpe, an upper house MP and strong same-sex marriage advocate, is seeking election to the new inner-city seat in March. Newtown has a higher-than-average proportion of same-sex couples and is notionally a Greens seat on current voting patterns.

Mr Foley voted against same-sex marriage in an upper house conscience vote in November 2013, and the bill was narrowly defeated.

Since assuming the leadership on Monday Mr Foley, a committed Catholic from the party's left faction, has been criticised on social media and elsewhere for failing to endorse gay marriage, a stance at odds with NSW Labor policy.

New Opposition Leader Luke Foley voted against same-sex marriage in an upper house conscience vote in November 2013. Photo: Nic Walker

Mr Foley signalled this week a shift in his views, saying he has an "an open mind" and would continue to reflect on the issue. However, he refused to commit to finalising his position before the election.

Newtown Greens candidate Jenny Leong described Mr Foley's wavering stance as a "cynical political exercise" designed to appease critics, saying it was at odds with his commitment this week to the Labor precept of "a fair go for all".

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She predicted his past opposition would have a "big impact" on voters in Newtown who "don't want to support a party that can't stand up and support fundamental, basic human rights like marriage equality".

Ms Sharpe described as "extraordinary" any suggestion that not supporting an openly gay candidate would advance marriage equality.

"If I'm elected, I'll be the first lesbian elected to the lower house in NSW," she said.

"I've got significant runs on the board in relation to law reform, marriage equality and actually getting the Labor Party to change its mind, and I'd hope that local voters would see that. I'd be the strongest advocate they could have if they want this issue to progress."

Ms Sharpe rejected suggestions Mr Foley's rethink on same-sex marriage was an attempt at political gain.

"It's a bit rough for people to suggest that people can't change their minds. We are in a very poor state of affairs if people cannot actually say that they are thinking about these things," she said.

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, who is gay, said Ms Sharpe was a committed and effective advocate for same-sex marriage, but Mr Foley's views might alienate voters who wanted reform.

"People will look at the individual candidates and they will look at the party leader," he said.

"People will be disappointed and confused that Labor has not elected a leader that supports same-sex marriage."

Mr Foley said on Monday that same-sex marriage laws were a matter for the federal Parliament. A 2013 NSW parliamentary inquiry found there was no constitutional impediment to states enacting such laws, and a same-sex marriage bill might be introduced to NSW Parliament if the federal Parliament rejects the reform again. However, the move could trigger a High Court challenge.

Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said Mr Foley's failure to endorse marriage equality was "out of step with Labor values, public opinion and the march of history".

"In the eyes of many voters, a politician's commitment to marriage equality is the measure of their commitment to equality, inclusion and social justice more broadly," he said.